Nursing

Respond of the ways listed below.

Share an insight from having viewed your colleagues’ posts.
Suggest additional actions or perspectives.
Share insights after comparing state processes, roles, and limitations.
Suggest a way to advocate for the profession.
Share resources with those who are in your state.

ANSWER

Certification and Licensure Response

Certification and licensure ate two commonly misunderstood terms in any profession. Certification is voluntary, and the loss of certification or the lack of one does not limit a person from practicing their profession. On the other hand, Licensure is granted by the state and contains the legal authority to practice a profession within a particular scope of practice. Licensure is required for one to call themselves a licensed professional. Majority of States in the U.S require a person to meet a certain standard of practice to acquire licensure as a nurse or clinical supervisor. Working as an RN in the US requires licensure, which means that a person must meet the standards pit in place and pass the licensing exam (American Nurses Association). All the 50 States share the same standard for passing the exam, which is graded as either a pass or fail.

Almost half of the U.S belongs to the nurse licensure compact. This means that it is easier for a nurse to participate in multiple States either through telenursing or being physically present. The RN, however, holds one compact license at a time. In case of a change of primary residence, they have to transfer their license. In Montana, a state that is not a member of the nurse license compact, nurses may be licensed by credentialing if they have met the equivalent licensing requirements in another State (NursingLicensure.org, 2021). Different states have different rules to ensure that the patients are protected. However, the States that are not in the compact program should consider joining the program to ensure that the nurses who want to practice in different States or those who have patients from different States can freely practice in the States. According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, the State practice and Licensure laws also allow all NPs to evaluate patients, diagnose, order, and interpret diagnostic tests. They are also allowed to prescribe medication and controlled substances under the exclusive licensure authority of the state board of nursing. However, the State practice and licensure laws reduce the ability for NPs to engage in at least one element of NP practice.

References

American Association of Nurse Practitioners. State Practice Environment. https://www.aanp.org/advocacy/state/state-practice-environment

American Nurses Association. Certification and Licensure. https://www.nursingworld.org/

NursingLicensure.org. (2021). The RN Licensing Process. https://www.nursinglicensure.org/articles/rn-licensing/